"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
Last month, Gaston County schools achieved a major fundraising goal….more than 4-million dollars!
This means 2-thousand classrooms in the Gaston County school district can now have SMART boards.
Now for those of you who haven't been in a classroom in the last ten years, SMART boards are the new chalkboard.
They're interactive whiteboards with touch control and computer applications.
Educators say SMART boards are the reason that science test scores are up 20 percent throughout the district.
But with recent state and local budget cuts to education…and boards cost 35-hundred dollars apiece…the possibility of SMART boards for each of Gaston county's classrooms seemed unlikely.
That is, until local philanthropists Ron and Katherine Harper stepped in.
They donated 2 million dollars to help kick things off.
The Harpers' gift -- combined with donations from local businesses, school PTAs, employees and civic groups AND a final 200 thousand dollar donation from the David Belk Cannon Foundation -- allowed the Gaston County Schools to surpass their goal.
We commend all who helped out in this effort.
This proves if communities work together…no child will be left behind.
Tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
